Ledger desk



yJune y17, 1930.

LEDGER DESK Filed March 31, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 17, 1930. 1. D, D|CK|NSON 1,764,612

LEDGER DESK Filed March 3l. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 17, 1930. J. n. Dlc-KINSON LEDGER DES K Filed March 151, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet iJune y17, 1930. J. D. DlcKlNsoN 1,764,612

LEDGE'R DESK Filed MaIGl'lv 3l, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Junelv, 1930. J D D|K.NSON 1,71%,612

' LEDGER DESKV Filed March :51. 1927 5 sheets-sheet 5k yao Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN DAVID DICKINSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO YAWIMIANl & ERBE MANUFACTURING CO., F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATIONOF NEW YORK Lavalinv DESK Application filed March 31, 1927. Serial No. 179,760.

My invention relates to that type of desks or cabinets. commonly known as card ledger desks, which are designed to contain trays of ledger cards or the like and to facilitate ready inspection or removal of the cards for posting or other entries. Such desks are customarily arranged so that they can be opened at the top to permit access to the cards, an-d when an entire tray is to be removed to be l lo stored in a vault, for example, the frontcan also be opened to enable the operator to pull the drawer out upwardly and forwardly in an easy motion rather than to liftit vertically. It is also customary to provide a work table traversable-over the top of vthe desk to form a convenient posting table.

' One objectof my invention is the provision of a ledger desk having improved closure means which may be manipulated ertirely to close the front and top of the desk or to leave the top of the desk open for posting and still maintain the front closed to conceal the unattractive front ends of the cards upporting tra-ys and to present an elbow rest for the clerk.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a ledger desk of the character described having a ledger supporting table which traverses the desk longitudinally and `which does not interfere with the opening or closing of the closure means.

These and further objectsand features of ymy invention, including those referring to structural details incident to carrying out the foregoing objects, are set forth in the following description of a particular embodiment of my invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of my desk which is here shown of an all-steel construction and embodying two sections; y

vFigure 2 is a transverse vert-ical section through the desk which may be considered as being taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1; v

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2 and looking rearwardly;

Figure 4. is a fragmentary plan and vertical section taken along the lines 4-4 of showing three modifications of the invention. l

The body of my ledger desk is shown in Figure 1 as supported2 by a set of suitably braced legs 10, although, of course, the body may rest upon any suitable support. The

legs extend between the lower edges of the outer and innerend walls 11 and 12 and are secured to the latter.. An outer back wall 13 extends across the backof the cabinet between the rearward edges of the inner and outer end walls 11 and 12. A section wall for dividing the body intotwo com artments is formed by a pair of plates 14o substantially the same size as the end walls which are secured to the outer back wall 13, as shown` at 15, and are supported at their forward ends upon a channel beam 16 which extends along the front of the body between the inner end walls 12. Intermediate their upper and lower edges the inner end Walls 12 and the section walls 14 are depressed inwardly toward their respective compartments, leaving invertedshoulders 17 and 18 beneath which are secured inner bottom plates 19 for the tray compartments. For each compartment there is an inner back wall 2O which extends between the inner end wall 12 and the partition' plate 14 and upwardly from the bottom plate 19. It will be seen fromthe description thus far that each of the two sections or tray compartments of the desk has an inner wall and a bottom,vbut no lixed top or front wall. y i f i. f

The outer end walls 11 are bentfinwardly for a distance along their upper and forward edges, as indicated at 21, and then doubled back as shown vat 22. Strips 23 of L-shaped cross section are disposed along the inner edges of the inturned flanges 22. These strips lie in overlapping position with the flanged upper and forward edges of the inner walls 12. An inwardly openin channel groove 24 is thus formed along t e. upper and forward ed e of theinner endA wall l2, as indicated in Igigures 1 and 3. These channel grooves, at the intersections of their horizontal and vertical portions, are swungl about a generous arc.

In a somewhat similar manner a finishing strip 25 of T-shaped cross section 1s provided along the juxtaposed upper and forward edges of the section plates 14, to form channel grooves 26- directly opposite the channel grooves 24 on the inner end walls.

The channel grooves 24 and 26 in both sections or compartments of the body extend below the inner bottom plate 19 and are there swung inwardly to extend into alignment with channel guide members 27 which are secured to the inner end walls and the section walls and which extend horizontally at a spaced distance below the inner ybottom plates 19 to positions rearwardly of the inner back walls 20 where they curve upwardly and extend between the inner and outer back walls. For each compartment or section there is therefore formed a pair of opposed guides which would form endless grooves except for the upper rearward COI'IleIS.

A roll top generally resembling that used in the usual roll top steeldesks is carried by the guideways in each section. The roll tops comprise a number of transverse strips 28 provided at their juxtaposed edges with cylindrically rolled flanges 28', whereby the successive strips are pivoted together. The upper or rear ends of the roll tops are provided with hollow bars 29 of greater width than the strips which act as the usual manually engageable end strips for sliding the roll tops. At the lower forward corners of the guideways I provide the aligned s rockets 30 and s rocket shafts 3l on which the sprockets are xed. The sprocket shafts for t-he two sections of the desk are, of course, independent so that one of the roll tops may be moved without disturbing the other. The shafts 31 are journaled in bearings 32 secured to the inner end walls12 and the section wall plates 14, as shown in Figure 3. The roll tops are of such lengths that when they are drawn upwardly and forwardly across the fronts and tops of the sections with the bars 29 overlying the inner back walls 20, the last strip will be engaged by the aligned sprockets 30. The channels 27 which extend beneath and at the back of the compartments are of suiicient length to contain the entire roll tops when they are drawn forwardly and downwardly to their openmost position where the projecting lateral flanges 33 ofthe bars 29 rest along the forward edges of the inner bottom plates 19.

The bars 29 of the roll tops are rovided with locking mechanisms, as best s ownin Figure 4. A lock 34 is set into each bar 29 centrally thereof withthe key opening, of course, facing outwardly. The rota member 35 of the lock is provided vat the back side of the bar 29 with a pair of eccentric pins 36 on which. are pivotedthe goose-necked ends' of opposed locking strips or bolts 37. The ends of the locking strips 37 are slidably journaled in brackets 38 at the ends of the bar 29, and, when the rotary member 35 is turned to its locked position, extend to the ends of the bars 29 and into engagement with springressed latches 39 (see Figures 2 and 4). ne set of these latches is disposed for engagement with the locking bolts 37 when the closure is in the position shown in Figures 2 and 6, and the remaining set is disposed so as to engage with the bolts when the closure is moved over t-he top of the desk (Figure 5).

The bolts will readily ride over the latches in extending the closure as in closingthe front and top, but will prevent retractionof the' closure when engaged therewith except 'by rotation of the rotary lock member 35 to withdraw the bolts 37.

It will be undertsood that a plurality of trays 43 containing ledger or other cards v44 are placed side by side in each section of the desk. Stop strips 45 are provided along the forward edges of the inner bottoms 19 to keep the trays positioned against the inner back walls 2O so that they cannot come into Contact with the roll tops at the front of the desk. At their intermedia e positions of Figures 2 and 6 the roll tops come approximately to the level of the cards 44 so that they ide the less sightly tray fronts and card compressors 46, but still do not shut off light from the cards. The broad flanges 33 at the upper edges ofthe end rails 29 form convenient arm rests for the `operator in looking through the cards. When one or more of the trays are to be removed from a section, the roll top is moved down to its lowermost position, as shown in Figure 7, which permits the operator to lift the tra over'the strip 45 and pull it forwardly untll it can easily be grasped for carrying away.

The flange 33 at such time is slightly below the top of the strip 45, so that the wear will come on the latter and not mar the enamel on the bar 29. j

To describe in detailthe mounting of the posting table '50, a horizontal rail 47 extends a distance forwardly from the outer back wall 13 to form a ledge between the ends of the desk. A Zshapedsubllange 48, attached to the forward edge -of the rail 47, forms a track for the rollers 49 ,ofy the posting table 50 which traverses thedesk abcve the rol'l top closurev50. The forward edge of the rail 47 is turned downwardly, as shown at 51, .to hold the posting board against forward movement and thereby retain the rollers Y f v forward end a ldownwardly'projecting leg l f ss whok sits on a stool or chair infront of the 4:9k on 'the'y trackv aordedhyl the sub-flange v(The posting'table .50,"which'lha's a flat, slightly fr inclined topsurface, carries atits y54; having sheaves 55at its lower end which engage the upper and lowe'i' rails of a track'- is working. It is to, e pointed 'out especially' circumstances make it more .desirable to use way 56 secured to thelower front edgekof the desk body. -Tlfe rollers 49 andsheaves permit an easy travelof the posting table along the desk so? atit can be positioned adjacent the cards with which the operator that the postingtable ycan always be moved toany desired position regardless of the position in which yeither of the roll tops happens to be. This makes it very 'practicable for -f the operator to make lentries onthe cards or to add'or remove cards from the trays'when the roll top is-in its 'lowermost position, if

the desk in this mannerrather than in the customary manner with the roll tops in the` position of Figurev 2. Another advantage of `my ,construction is thatvthe ydesk is at .all times selfcontained,-th'at is, there are no doors or otherclosures which, in order to be opened, have to swing out beyond the confines of the desk or getin the way ofan' operator gesk with his knees projecting below the desk ody. I l, j

In Figure 8, I have shown a modied form of the invention in which the roll top or flexible closure is drawn forwardly from the top rear portion of the desk.

j A separate rigid closure member 6() movg able in the guides 27, serves to fclose the rvfront wall of the desk. The top of this member forms an abutting edge for the bar 29 at the front ofthe closure 28. When the trays are to beremov'ed, the rigid panel, which l wardly to the rear'most portion ofthe upper horizontal stretch ofthe guides, 27. It is to v `beunderstood that the drawings forthis and' 'the subsequently described` modifications are) must necessarily differ.

l is supported in the guides 27 onlyatits'upper f and lower ends, is movedupwardly andrearvery diagrammatic'al, but that the details of construction are identical ywiththose of the preferred form except, ofcourse, as they' j yIn Figure 9, I have shownanother modiled form of the invention which isidentical v to the preferred form with the one exception that a separate, relativelywide, rigid member 61 similar tothe member 60 isprvided to close the front onf the desk. Thus when the top `of the desk alone openfthe iiexible part Vand -front lclosure `must bemoved with change :ofzposition ofeither' front or ltop `Afront and' top, end wal ofthe 10me lisinvsiblegsndfhej desk. re'.

p sents an exceptionally 'neat appearance. he

,member 61,'"a's wellI as the member 60, isf constructed sqthatf itsupper and lower portions l alonefengage with the "guide member 27 so' thatno difficulty arises in moving' the mem= ber through the curved portions of `the guides 27.- Ample clearanceis allowedbetweenfthe W843i c, .e l

fin Figurejldr have shqwnjstiuj further 's providetwo`separate,iexible closures 2,8 v`and 28?,l one to. be drawn `from thenpper rear *portion* of the desky andthe "other fromfthe lower bottom portionb" ',Eachof the' closures yterminates atI its forward edge in a "bai-(29 withf locks Lsimilarly lto v the lock4v 34., shown y.in

rthep'referredlform, andare intendedj'tofmeet 'modified ferm e of the#invention` in; which-1 i" VflOwhenthe closures areffully extended; [This modicationpossesses theadvan'tage of sepa.l

rate manipulationgofthe" top orfiront closure with themovementof areiatively lighticl'os i ure. In'the preferred formsk the` entire "top closure portions.v

,While I .have shown thisspeciiic "emhodi-y e l mentv of my invention,'-`I Acontemplate 'that' changes may be -made therein without depart- .ingfrom they tion.

fl'sIn a-ledger desk provided lwith an open s vprovided with chan? every nels neartheir "top, front, and bottom edges,

ajfiexible vclosure sli-dablemin said channels,

- means'in said channels adjacent the ytoptof the front andthelbaekofthe top, respectively, for permitting the closure -to move in one direction but .for 'preventing' movement" in the other direction, andmeanfs'carriedbysaid closure Afor disengagijg Said` rspmentimd means.

2.' A ledger desk-having side and rear walls forming la compartment forthereeeptionjof trays olcards,*the compartmen'tghaving' 'an open front and top Vand 'ai slidablyfsupportedlj flexible, closure therefor `movable upwardlyf to close thevffront Aand Afurther 3;y A ledger desk having sidev andrea'rfwalls forming. ya compartment for the receptionof' trays of 'cards, the" compartmentjhaving an open front and Stop," ar slidably supported iexible"elosure'therefor' movable upwardly:

to close the front-and further'fmovable rear-l wardly to yclose ythe `front and top, andmeans for retaining Athe closure: 'infl an intermediate position to closethe; front whilefleaving the topo en. l" "i 'y A'ledgerdesk havin side and rear walls forming a compartment or the reception of trays e' of cards, a compartment having an open r front and top,y a l1 slids'ibly 'supported iso c n y vable rearf 11s .wardly tojclose the front and tllitop'; f1 1 f' flexible closure therefor movable upwardly to close the front and further movable rearwardly to close the front and the top, said closure being stored yalong the. bottomy and rear of the compartment when not in operative position.

5. The combination with a ledger desk having a compartment formed by a bottom, a rear and side walls with a continuous opening at the front and top, and a posting board mounted over the opening for' lateral, reciprocation,-.of closure means for the front, and front and top, respectively, operable irrespective of the position of the board and comprising a liiexible closure mounted to slide upwardly and rearwardly across the front and top to close them, and meansfor retaining the closure in lan' intermediate posi'- tion closing the front while leaving the top open.

6. The combination with a desk having a compartment closed at the bottom, rear and side but a continuous opening at its front and top, of a flexible roll top meansfor closing tion Vmovable upwardl from the.y bottom across the front l to c ose the front and further movable to close the front and top, means for retaining it in that position with the top'open, and guideways along the bottom and rear wall wherein-the roll top means is stored when not in operative position.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 28th day of March, 1927.

-. JOHN DAVID DICKINSON..

the front, and both the front and top, re-

spectively, said means includinga portion movable upwardly from the bottom across the front to close the front, and means for retaining it in that position with the top 30 o en, said roll top means being further mova le to a top closin position.

7. A ledger des having Side and rear` walls forming a compartment for the reception of trays of cards, the compartment havseing an open front and top, a slidably supported flexible closure therefor movable upwardly to close the front and further movable rearwardly to close the front and the top, means for retaining the closure in an intermediate position to close the frontV while leaving the topA open, and means wherein the closure is stored along the bottom and rear wallwhen not in operative position.

8. The combination with a ledger desk f having a compartment formed by a bottom, a rear and side Iwalls with a continuous opening at the front and top, and a posting board mounted over 'the openingfor lateral reciprocation,of closure means for the front, and front and top, respectively, operable irrespective of the position of the board. and comprising a lexi le closure'mounted to slide upwardly and rearwardly across the frontand top to close them, means for retaining the closure in an intermediate position closing the front while leaving the top open, and guideways along the bottom and rear wall wherein the closure is's'tored when not in operative position.

9. The combination withl a desk having a compartment closed at the bottom, rear and side but with a continuous opening at its front and top, of aexible roll top means for closing the front, and both the front and top, respectively, said means including a por- 

